1952 Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire 346

1952 Armstrong-Siddeley Sapphire 346 Specs

When it appeared, it could have been easy to conclude that the 346 was just another rebody of the pre-war models, such was the timidity of its design. However, it was entirely new underneath, featuring a fresh suspension set-up of coil springs at the front and leaf springs at the back. It received a new engine, too – a lusty 3.4-litre six that was powerful enough to push the the 346 to 95mph, a significant step forward. But compared with the opposition it was too unwieldy for mass appeal, and a downturn in Armstrong Siddeley’s fortunes quickly followed.